Tata in world's best business brains list

PROUD MOMENT: Ratan Tata has been included in the list of 73 biggest brains in business.

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New York: After being named among the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine, head of India's Tata Group Ratan Tata has been included in the list of 73 biggest brains in business for his Rs 100,000 Nano car.

Conde Nast Portfolio, a US business magazine, in its May issue on all-round brilliance, has identified business' biggest brains including media czar Rupert Murdoch, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and investor Warren Buffet.

"Brilliance comes in many forms, whether it is founding a startup that kicks sand in Microsoft's face or creating an affordable car for the developing world. A small number of innovators influence the rest of the influencers in business," the magazine said.

Profiling Tata, the magazine said, "He believes the future of the auto industry rests in the hands of people who don't yet drive. Besides snapping up Jaguar and Land Rover, his company, the Tata Group, is developing a car that will cost just $2,500".

The model won't be sold in the US, but the magazine said, it has the potential to radically alter the market for manufacturers there.

"Tata-inspired followers are already revving up their engines: Nissan-Renault is partnering with India's Bajaj Auto to develop a car by 2010 that will sell for less than $3,000," the magazine added.

"But except for Ford India, US companies can't produce a model this cheaply. Which means they risk being run over," the magazine predicted.

Tata is considered a 'game changer' by the magazine, other categories in its brilliant list being connectors, taste-makers, rebels and upstarts.